Any information about the ZZR 600?

Question

Looking to buy one this weekend. If anyone knows any performance figures or have any useful information or good/bad experience with this bike would really appreciate hearing your views.

Answer 1

I used to have one, and in the real world it's no slower than it's more rabid cousin, the ZXR-600. a ZXR will probably have it in the hands of experienced riders, but for most of us, the ZZR and ZXR offer marginal performance differences, and it's more comfortable to boot. I found the ZXR was a bit to keen to make you ride like a loon, the ZZR has shallower steering angles, so it's a bit more relaxed. Nothing like a bandit, but didn't hurt my wrists anything like the current crop or razor edged 600 sports bikes do.

Nice reliable bike, and cheaper on the insurance. I'd also suggest you have a look at the YZF 600 thundercat. The YZF is essentially the same as the ZZR, softer and more user friendly than it's R6 brother but still offers plenty of performance for all but the the most hardened rider. Am i allowed to say the YZF looks a little nicer? Thats what i swapped my ZZR for.

Still, excellent bike, mine was 100% trouble free in the two years I owned it.

Answer 2

I own an '06 ZZR600 that I bought new. It was an involuntary graduation from my late SV650S, and there were many reasons I bought it.

First, although I LOVED the fuel injection and feel of the SV's little V-twin, I really despised the suspension. I wanted full adjustment on both ends, and secretly desired a full fairing.

But I still had a budget, and $9k was still too much to pay for a "true" supersport bike. So I gave up fuel injection for a lower price and better suspension and got my ZZR. The other bonus is that it's classed as a "sport tourer" by most insurance companies, and is cheaper to insure than an R6 would be.

It is NOT a first bike for someone, even if it is a little slower than a ZX-6R. It still has a punch at 9000RPM and I've had the speedo touching 145mph while still in 5th gear.

I put a lot of miles on my bike, and ride in any weather short of a blizzard or snow on the roads. I commute, I play, and I abuse. I spent the money on a 3-year service contract, and I guarantee I'll get my money's worth out of the deal.

I broke my engine in the quick way, which is to say that I got the engine warmed up properly and built up to the rev limiter over the first 100 miles, then got the oil changed. I use the contract to change the oil every 1000 miles, and even when cold the bikes starts and runs smoothly. It burns clean, runs smooth, and I have no problems with the engine at all.

I do miss fuel injection and the extra mileage it brings, but I still get about 43mpg average and the ZZR is faster than my SV was. I had a problem with missed shifts at about 3,000 miles, but the linkage was just sticky and a clean/regrease fixed it. I've gotten over 5,000 miles on the OEM Dunlop D207's, and they've been good tires overall.

I like the bike a lot, and now that I've had a taste of different things I'm lusting after a fuel injected V-twin like an Aprilia Tuono or Ducati 1098 (DROOL!). I'll ride this one until I total it (hope not) or I hit 20,000 miles in a few years.

Answer 3

This is the bike I was initially considering because it has a naturally low seat height (I'm 5'3). It isn't the fastest of the 600's and it's heavier than the 6R or 6RR.

I didn't get around to doing a lot of research on it because my eye was caught by something else, but the one thing I did notice is that I didn't like the peg placement. I can't remember if they were in front of or behind my legs when my feet were down, but I found it awkward for those situations where you need to back up or move it forward by foot.

Riding position is more comfortable than the other two 6's though.

Answer 4

Fast, comfortable, reliable, relatively low running costs. Handling is not going to make a proper sportsbike jealous, but for everyday use it's a great bike.